My wife and I are about to graduate from graduate school and are thinking about a move to Colorado from Texas to be closer to the slopes and we want to know what we should expect if any of you have any insight?

Property taxes? State income tax? Gun/hunting legislation? Cost of living?

Colorado Springs is a nice place to live. We have the make my day law, castle doctrine is recognized and there are plenty of free places to shoot for free in the mountains. The economy is very tight here, the police are strict, and most of the city is on meth. But it is a nice place to live.

Just did my taxes and an interesting question came up on the form. When I entered the tuition deduction for my kids in college it asks if they have been convicted of felony drug possession. Whats that about? Just remember elwaynum1, if you are moving there for the weed - no tuition discount on your taxes.

Other than that I love Colorado and have visited there many time. Made me sad last time when it Rocky Mount NP - so many the trees killed by pine beetle.

__________________
I told the new me,
"Meet me at the bus station and hold a sign that reads: 'Today is the first day of the rest of your life.'"
But the old me met me with a sign that read: "Welcome back."
Who you are is not a function of where you are. -Off Minor

The fact that the legislature and Governor are controlled by the Dems scares the heck out of me

and yes, it is "going blue" very quickly.

Such a shame, I don't know how these population/political shifts occur. You leave your failed state (California) for a place with more economic freedom and opportunity, then try to make it like where you left. I'm see it here in ATX.

Having lived in both places, I highly recommend you spend two weeks in CO just living among the locals. It's gonna be a huge adjustment coming from The Republic of Texas.

I'm hoping you can elaborate on this a bit, Chris. I am looking to eventually move west from the northeast, and I considered Texas very seriously, spending some time there traveling around and scouting out work opportunities. But lately I have been thinking I need real mountains, and have been looking at Colorado. I have been there a few times, but never really had the change to mingle with the locals that much.

I liked the most of the people I met in Texas quite a bit. Very friendly and real and upbeat.

Such a shame, I don't know how these population/political shifts occur. You leave your failed state (California) for a place with more economic freedom and opportunity, then try to make it like where you left. I'm see it here in ATX.

And that's exactly what happened to us. In the late 80s and throughout the 90s there was a massive wave of people moving from California to Colorado and among other things, they brought their politics with them. It's still a pretty cool place to live, but the cost of living keeps going up and it is definitely becoming more and more of a blue state with each passing month.

I'm not a big fan of Colorado Springs. Everyone talks about how nice it is there. Personally, I think its a dump. It has a pretty big gang, drug and illegal immigrant problem and its home turf for the Sons of Silence. Not saying Denver or the rest of the Front Range is much better, but of all the cities I could live in, Colorado Springs would be towards the bottom of the list.

Also, avoid the city of Boulder. It's a hardcore liberal/hippie democrat city that almost makes San Francisco look conservative.

Southern Colorado, South of Pueblo that is, is still pretty conservative. Democrat conservative but conservative nonetheless.
You'd probably be pretty happy there. The outskirts if Pueblo is where I grew up. It is the friendliest place I've ever been. No one cares about White, Black , Hispanic etc. If you go there you will find your neighbors act like neighbors. You'll have to be careful, it will worm it's way into your heart very quickly. Lot's of rural folks "out in the county"where I grew up.
The third lowest cost of living in the U.S.
The scrubland around the city is what they meant when they coined the phrase"God's Country", and a little gunfire doesn't worry anybody.
If you decide to even look there PM me and I'll guide you to the neat places.

__________________
Gaily bedight, A gallant knight In sunshine and in shadow, Had journeyed long, Singing a song, In search of El Dorado

I can't wait to get back to CO. I took a (great) job here in CA, but I can't stand the silly laws and prices of everything. I've been able to keep my sanity since all of my colleagues are all gun guys, so we can all chat and console each other about our out-of-state ARs and AKs.

Coming from Texas to CO, you won't find much different in gun-ville (hopefully it stays that way).

Hunting rules need some reading to make sure you're in compliance with regs, but compared to other places I've been, they are OK. Licenses for most big game species are by drawing (deadline this year is Apr 2). There are over the counter licenses for antlered elk, bear, and archery antelope You need to have lived in the state for six consecutive months before you can get resident hunting or fishing licenses.

Cost of living in the area is much less than, say, the Denver metro area. Pay is generally lower due to the lower cost of living, but it evens out.

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